Delayed Diagnosis Claims

Sadly these days a delayed diagnosis compensation claims are a regular feature of our Medical Negligence Departments work. A delayed diagnosis or a misdiagnosis can often result in a much worse outcome for the patient and it is in these circumstances that you should find out if our experienced, Delayed Diagnosis Solicitors can help you.

If you’ve been treated by the NHS or privately, you could be entitled to a No Win, No Fee Compensation Claim for Hospital Negligence.

Contact our Medical Negligence team for a free consultation on 08001 444 111 or complete the online contact form and they’ll be touch within 48 hours, to give you peace of mind.

Common Delayed Diagnosis Claims:

Cauda Equina is a set of nerves at the base of your spine. These nerves control your bladder, bowels, lower limbs and skin around the bottom & rectum.

Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is a medical emergency which occurs when a disc moves and compresses these nerves. To give you the best chance of not having permanent symptoms, surgery needs to take place (usually within 24 – 48 hours) to decompress the nerves.

Meningitis Claims

Bacterial Meningitis is a life-threatening condition and a medical emergency. A combination of fever, non-blanching rash, vomiting, neck pain, drowsiness, and convulsions could have been missed by a medical professional.

If a medical professional missed your meningitis symptoms or those of your child you should contact us immediately.

Subarachnoid Haemorrhage

A subarachnoid haemorrhage is a bleed on the brain. Sadly these can be misdiagnosed resulting in a delay in diagnosis. Typically symptoms include a stiff neck, vomiting, sensitivity to light (photophobia) and vision problems.

Often a patient’s symptoms will be mistaken for symptoms of a migraine or a headache. However, it’s the combination of symptoms, that should alert a medical professional to diagnose or exclude a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Ectopic Pregnancy Claims

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb in one of the fallopian tubes. As the embryo grows the tube stretches and if the pregnancy continues the tube can rupture, causing pain and bleeding.

Many claims for delayed diagnosis of ectopic pregnancies do not result from the loss from the loss of the fallopian tubes. However, they are from a result of the pain and suffering caused by the delay of diagnosis, resulting in an emergency.

Appendicitis Claims

Appendicitis should be treated urgently via surgery to remove the appendix. If your appendix bursts (ruptures) it can result in infection, development of abscesses and blood poisoning, which can be life threatening.

You may have reported pain in your lower right abdomen with other symptoms such as a temperature, vomiting and diarrhoea to your GP or A&E and they simply said you had a stomach upset or bug. Alternatively, you may have been admitted to hospital and the hospital did not act upon your symptoms of appendicitis meaning that you became much more ill.

Cancer Claims

Delayed diagnosis of cancer can result in medical negligence claims. Certain symptoms should alert medical professionals that cancer needs to be excluded. Examples of symptoms which should alert medical professionals to particular types of cancer are:

An inability to swallow (dysphagia) should result in an urgent referral to exclude oesophageal cancer.

Blood in the urine should result in an immediate referral to exclude bladder and kidney (renal) cancer.

Rectal bleeding in certain circumstances should result in an immediate referral to exclude bowel cancer.

Similarly, headaches with other visual symptoms should lead to consideration of a brain pathology. Breast lumps also require appropriate analysis and investigation. If you feel your GP failed to refer you then you should contact us immediately.